Slurry pump and distributor system



. O United States Patent [111 3,539,105

[72] Inventors Donelson B. Horton, 2,555,693 6/1951 Heltzel 239/l60X Madi son agd 3,199,423 8/1965 Dickey 239/172X pp No g 'x g Downmg HuntsvilleAlabama Primary ExaminerSamuelF. Coleman a 4 m [22] Filed March 1967 irney Cushman, Darby and Cushman [45] Patented Nov. 10, 1970 [73] Assignee John Blue Company Incorporated Humsvmet; gi ABSTRACT: An improved distributor unit is provided which a corpora on o a includes a single outlet means which can be rotated to form a flat plane of liquid distribution. The distributor unit is con- [54] SLURRY PUMP AND DISTRIBUTOR SYSTEM structed to provide for adjustment of the single outlet length, 7 claims 5 Drawing Figs and also its orifice diameter, and a counterbalancing means is provided to offset the position of the outlet. Further, a means [52] US. Cl 239/142, i provided f automatically adjusting both the outlet length 239/156239/162 and the counterbalancing means so that there is a propor- [51] Int. Cl B05b 9/00 tionate compensation f the counterbalance f 3" positions ofsearch of the outlet means The invention also provides for an im- -l78; 239/142, 155, 156, 1 57, 6 162, proved mounting arrangement and spacing arrangement of 273 5381/ (consulted) centrifugal distributors wherein a more uniform pattern of dis- 56] References cited tribution is attained. Individual distributors are mounted at angles so that the rate of application forms a pattern of distribu- UNITED STATES PATENTS tion which is uniform. The patterns of distribution are over- 990,335 4/1911 Cantwell 239/156 lapped'in a substantial way so that complete uniformity of 3,127,109 3/1964 Frase 239/162 liquid distribution is achieved over a wide range of variables of 1,397,045 1 1/ 1921 Finley 239/166X application. The foregoing abstract is not intended to define 1,884,475 10/1932 Woodcock 239/ 170 the scope of this invention, but is provided only to assist in a 2,098,523 11/1937 Simning 239/159 cursory review of the gist of the invention.

Patented Nov. 10, 1970 Sheet 1 of3 Patented Nov. 10, 1970 3,539,105

Sheet 2 of3 INVENTORs ATTORNEYS SLURRY PUMP AND DISTRIBUTOR SYSTEM BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to means for distributing slurries or suspensions of solid particles in liquid medium, and particularly to apparatus for distributing liquid slurries of fertilizer materials onto cultivated land.

In preparing modern fertilizer materials for application to farm land at a field site, it is usually necessary to mix the various materials which make up the particular fertilizer to be used. In recent years there has been considerable use of solid additives in liquid fertilizer mediums, and it is particularly important that such additives be evenly and homogenously mixed in a solution for dispensing, so that each incremental area of ground fertilized receives approximately the same amounts of the fertilizer materials. Many of the solid additives which are thus applied are not soluble in water or the other liquid mediums, and therefore a true solution is not obtained when such additives are mixed into the fertilizer mediums. More properly, such mixtures may be described simply as slurries, or suspensions of solid particles in liquid mediums, and the even distribution of such slurries has presented numerous difficulties.

It has long been known in the prior art, as illustrated for example in the patent to Travis US. Pat. No. 1,340,806 of May 18, 1920, that liquid fertilizers may be automatically distributed from liquid tank conveyances. And the Travis patent discloses what has probably heretofore been the most consistently employed method of distribution, namely, allowing jets or streams of liquid fertilizer to impinge upon rotating vanes which are driven by the vehicle, the vanes thus diverting and throwing the liquid over an are some distance from the tank nozzles.

However, it has been recognized that such procedure does not provide for variations in the speed of the vehicle, variations in the rotational speed of the vanes, varying viscosities of the fertilizer fluid and variations in the path of the vehicle. The problems encountered in attempting to maintain a uniform rate of application over the entire swath path of the distributor is, of course, compounded, when the fertilizer fluid medium is not completely homogenous, but consists of a liquid suspension or slurry of solid particles.

It is an object of the present invention to provide means for overcoming objections to prior art fertilizer distributing apparatus, and to provide distributor means whereby fertilizer can be uniformly applied to field land over the entire swath width of the carrier vehicle.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide distributor apparatus which can be carried by a tank truck and to distribute liquid fertilizer uniformly over a swath of field land despite variations in vehicle speed and variations in the path of the vehicle.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide distributing apparatus for liquid fertilizer mediums wherein the medium consists of a suspension of solid particles within a liquid fertilizer base, so that such medium may be uniformly distributed despite variations in the viscosity of the medium, the velocity of the vehicle, the path of the vehicle the desired rate of the application, and the weight and density of the solid particles within the medium.

It has been found that the apparatus of the present invention provides for effective distribution of fertilizer slurries, including solid particles. It has further been found that when the apparatus of the present invention is used in the manner described herein, and within the limits specified, the variables which together determine the degree of proper distribution pattern of the fertilizer are to a large extent self-compensating so that uniform distribution of the desired amount of fertilizer can be achieved through the use of a remarkably economical and uncomplicated system.

In particular, the present invention utilizes a spinning distributor orifice, wherein the rate of flow through the orifice is governed by its size, its distance from the axis of rotation, and

the rotational speed of the distributor orifice, which in turn is governed by and directly related to the speed of the vehicle. The plane of rotation of this orifice is tilted with respect to the field land in order to bring about the compensation of the various weight and velocity factors, and to cooperate in achieving the desired uniform distribution;

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, and from the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of apparatus according to the invention, with fertilizer distributors mounted to the rear, and to each side, of a fluid carrying tank truck;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of one of the distributors illustrated in FIG. 1, showing further details of the construction;

FIG. 3 is a plane view of the same distributor, taken along 7 the lines 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the distributor, taken in section in order to show the interior details of construction; and

FIG. 5 is a graphic illustration of the overlapping distribution rate pattern achieved with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now more particularly to FIG. 1, the letter A generally designates a fertilizer distributing system according to the present invention wherein the liquid fertilizer suspension or slurry is carried within a large tank 10 which is mounted upon and carried by a heavy truck body 12. The tank 10 is arranged and provided with outlets 14 for removing the fertilizer slurry continuously in desired amounts, and the tank, cylindrical in form, is further provided with an agitating device of the type disclosed in the US. Pat. application Ser. No. 609,978, filed Dec. 16, 1966, and assigned to the John Blue Company, Incorporated. This agitator device includes a mount 16 for a shaft 18 extending through the lower portion of the rear end wall 20. Interior of the tank is a vane or paddle, not shown, attached to the shaft 18 for continuously stirring and mixing the materials within a liquid fertilizer medium. The shaft 18, and therefore the paddle, is oscillated by means disclosed in said application, which are driven from the truck motor.

The fluid outlet 14 of the tank is connected by a hose 24 to the distributing apparatus, generally indicated by the letter S which is carried rearwardly of the tank 10. As shown generally in FIG. 1, this apparatus generally comprises a pair of distributor devices 30, 32 according to the present invention which are suspended at the ends of elongated hollow bars 34, 36 respectively, to each side of the tank vehicle. The bars 34, 36 are respectively supported at their interior ends by a frame which includes main supports 40, 42 and linkages L which permit the height of the distributors 30, 32 to be varied. The supporting means further includes chains 44, 46 and fluid pistons 50, 52 connecting the main supports and the linkages so that hollow bars 34 and 36 and attached distributor devices 30, 32 can be adjusted and raised.

The liquid fertilizer medium is spread to each of the distributor devices through a hose 56, 58 respectively, communicating with the lower end of hose 24. A drive shaft for each of the distributors, shown more clearly in FIGS. 2 and 4, extends through the interior of each of the bars 34, 36, and this drive shaft is adapted to be rotated by a power takeoff device driven in turn by the motive power of the vehicle. It should be noted, from FIG. 1, that the vertical axis of each of the distributors is not perpendicular to the ground, but is tilted, as shown, at an angle of from 1030 to the vertical. In this way liquid is expelled from each of the distributors in substantially fiat planes which are coextensive and which angle upwardly and away from the vehicle. With this arrangement, it has been found that tilted centrifugal distributors result in a vastly improved pattern of distribution of the liquid being dispensed onto the ground. The improved pattern of distribution may be considered in the form of a triangle which represents the quantity of liquid application by each distributor as it moves over the ground in a dispensing operation. By arranging the distributors so that their triangular patterns of distribution overlap, there is achieved an unexpectedly improved and more uniform distribution of liquid onto the earth. Also, this arrangement prevents the splashing of any liquid against the vehicle supporting the distributors, and no shielding or valving devices are required.

Referring now to FIG. 2 of the drawings, it will be seen that the distributor device 32 comprises a main housing 60 which includes a flange 62 to which the support bar 36 is rigidly secured. The hose 58 is securely attached to an inlet opening 64 to the upper end of the housing 60. A rotating nozzle 66, having an extendible orifice member 68, is secured to a tube member 70 whose upper portions extend into the body of the housing 60. Also secured to nozzle 66, but located 180 from the extendible orifice 68, is a shaft 74 which is adapted to receive, in sliding relation, a counterweight 76. Also attached to the lower end of the nozzle member or housing 66 is a rigid plate 80. As shown more clearly in FIG. 3, the plate 80 is provided with a pair of angularly disposed longitudinal slots 82, 84. A pin 86, adapted to slide in slot 82, is secured to a bracket attached to the extendible orifice member 68. A pin 88, adapted to slide with slot 84, is secured to counterweight 76. The pin 86 is also attached to one end of a bar 90, whose other end is attached for rotation adjacent to the outer periphery of a manually operated wheel or dial 100, and pin 88 is also attached to one end of a bar 92 whose other end is attached for rotation adjacent to the outer periphery of dial 100 at a point 180 removed from the attachment point of bar 90. The bars 90 and 92 are preferably formed in the configuration shown to prevent binding when being actuated. Dial 100 is secured about the lower end of nozzle housing 66 for free rotation thereon. Accordingly, it will be seen that when the wheel or dial 100 is rotated, the bars 90 and 92, which are equal in length. will draw the pins 86 and 88 forward or backward within their respective slots an equal distance so that as the member 68 is extended outwardly the counterweight 76 is likewise moved outwardly from the housing 66. Correspondingly, as the wheel 100 is rotated so as to draw the orifice member 68 inwardly, the counterweight 76 will likewise be drawn inwardly. Once a desired position for the nozzle and counterweight is established, the counterweight may be locked onto the shaft 74 by tightening a thumb screw 101. Additionally, the extendible member 68 may be locked by tightening the ring 103, if desired. Of course the counterweight 76 and extendible member 68 may be separately actuated if it is desired to provide a structure without the automatic adjusting means 100. Also, it is contemplated that the counterweight means 76 may be in the form of a closed off nozzle structure which corresponds to the outlet 66 together with any extendible portion 68 that may be included. Where the counterweight is in the form of a second nozzle structure (disposed 180 from the first nozzle), it may be desired to provide a removable end cap for the second nozzle so that it can be put into operation by removing the end cap. In this way, the two nozzle structures can be provided with differing orifice diameters and one or the other of the structures can be put into operation by changing the position of the end cap from one to the other ofthe nozzles.

Referring now to FIG. 4 of the drawing, it will be seen that the inlet 64 places the fluid medium in communication with the elongated tube 70 which is supported for rotation within the housing 60 by pairs of roller bearings 104, 106. The interior of the housing is sealed from the fluid medium by a mechanical seal 108, comprising an annular diaphragm, disposed adjacent to the mouth or upper end of the tube 70. Disposed about the tube 70 and secured thereto is a gear 110 which is driven by a mating gear 112 secured to and rotated by the adjacent end of the drive shaft 114 extending through the interior of tube 36. As shown in FIG. 4, the end of drive shaft 114 is supported for free rotation by ball bearings 120 within flange 62. The lower end of the tube 70, that portion thereof which extends below housing 60, is secured to the nozzle housing 66 and, when the tube is rotated through the gears, the nozzle housing 66 is likewise subjected to rotation. Thus, there is provided a distributor means having a portion thereof which is rotatable about a central axis, and a distributor nozzle is arranged at substantially a right angle to the axis of rotation so that liquid is expelled from a replaceable orifice 123 in a flat plane at right angles to and surrounding the axis of rotation for the distributor. The means for driving the shaft 114 may comprise any suitable means for receiving a driving movement from the vehicle itself. Preferably, the speed of rotation for the shaft 114 is directly related to the speed of ground movement for the vehicle, and in this way, liquid distribution is substantially uniform irrespective of changes in ground speed of the vehicle. FIG. 4 illustrates a typical arrangement wherein a pulley means may be secured to a portion of the central drive shaft 114. The pulley means 120 may be driven by a belt means 124 which receive their motions fromthe drive wheel of the vehicle by means of a press wheel 125. Of course, suitable bearing means for supporting the driven shaft 114 and the pulley 120 are provided in the structure. A similar shaft may extend in an opposite direction from the pulley 120 (from that shown in FIG. 4) to provide a driving movement to the opposed distributor carried at the other end of the system.

In operation, the system is initially flooded so that all conduits and the individual distributor means 30 and 32 contain whatever liquid is to be dispensed. Then, the individual distributors may be started by engaging whatever driving means is being used from the vehicle itself. Once the distributors are being rotated, they act as pumping devices which draw and meter the correct quantity of liquid for distribution, as related to the ground speed of the vehicle and the rotational speed of the two distributor means. Although, more than one outlet nozzle 66 may be provided for each distributor, it has been found that where two or more nozzles are provided in a single distributor, there is a possibility of one nozzle out of the group becoming clogged without the operator of the vehicle becoming aware of the condition. This seriously affects the uniformity of metered distribution ofa liquid onto the earth, and therefore, it is desirable to have only single outlet nozzle which can pump and meter known quantities of liquid onto the earth at all times. Of course, if the single nozzle becomes clogged, the operator is immediately aware of this condition since no liquid at all would be coming from that particular distributor. Because it is desirable to utilize a single outlet with each rotating distributor, the provision of a counterbalance or counterweight means 76 is important to the assurance of a vibrationfree spinning or rotating of the distributor. With the present invention, a means is provided for adjusting the effective length of the distributor outlet, and also a means is provided to concurrently adjust the position of the counterbalance 76 so as to compensate for any change in length of the distributor outlet. By adjusting the length of distributor outlet, it is possible to control the quantity of liquid which is being pumped and metered through the spinning distributor units.

As a typical example of an operational system, the equipment shown in FIG. 1 has been tested with two distributors spaced apart for a distance of approximately 20 feet. The distributors were mounted approximately two feet above the ground level, and each distributor was mounted with its axis of rotation between 10 and 30 away from a vertical axis on a vertical plane lying in the direction of vehicle travel. In one typical operation, the angled distributors caused liquid spinning forwardly of each distributor to strike the ground within 5 or 6 feet of the position of the distributor. On the other hand, liquid being discharged rearwardly away from the distributor travelled approximately 20 or 30 feet because of the high angle of the liquid plane of distribution. With the distributors mounted in the arrangement just described, liquid was dispensed onto the ground from each distributor in a 40 foot wide swath. Because the distributors were only 20 feet apart, it can be seen that the patterns of distribution for each distributor overlapped by a substantial amount, that is, by a distance of 20 feet into each pattern. This substantial overlap assured a pattern of distribution which was more uniform and less subject to variation than any known prior arrangement for spreading or distributing liquids onto the earth. Also, it was found that the operating speeds of the vehicle had little effect on the uniformity of distribution for the system. In fact, it was found that the present system has a distribution pattern variation of no more than 6 or 7 percent difference in rate of application when the vehicle is operating at speeds between 3 and 10 miles per hour. In contrast, other known systems have variations ranging from to 80 percent under the same conditions of speed variation of a vehicle, and other systems are nonuniform in their applications at any given speed. Thus,

despite differences in distribution pressures, vehicle speeds, viscosities of liquid, and adjusted rates of application, it has been found that the distribution system of this invention is essentially self-compensating for all of these differences. The use of tilted distributor units, together with the arrangement of substantial overlapping of liquid distributions from separate units, accountsfor the unexpected and improved results attained by this invention. When a first swath is completed down the length of a field being treated, an operator can turn the vehicle around and begin a second swath with the second swath overlapping the first one by approximately 20 feet. Although the twenty foot overlap between patterns from separate distributors is ideal for the 20 foot spacing of distributors which form 40 foot swaths for each distributor, it has been found that a variation in the overlap does not seriously affect the uniformity of rate of distribution. This means that a driver does not have to maintain a vehicle in exactly a prescribed course on any return or subsequent swath of distribution across a field since there will be very little effect upon the uniformity of distribution with the superior pattern obtained by the tilting of separate distributors.

The reason for the improved distribution from tilted distributor units is not entirely understood, and is not easily described mathematically, however, certain noticeable features of the improved distribution pattern have been observed. If the distributor unit of this invention, or any other centrifugal type of distributor unit, were mounted on a perfectly vertical axis of rotation, there would be formed a doughnut shaped pattern of dispensed liquid onto the earth beneath each such distributor if the distributor were not moving forwardly. Thus, there would be a large untreated central area beneath the stationary position of each spinning distributor, and there would be a ring of liquid application surrounding the central disc of untreated earth. Now, if that distributor were moved forwardly, as in the case of a distributor mounted on a vehicle, there would be an uneven pattern of distribution of liquid across the width of the swath formed by the forwardly moving distributor. In fact, it has been found that there would be two points of maximum rate of distribution along two lines spaced inwardly from the outer edges of the swath, and there would be a decreasingly lesser rate of distribution from each of the maximum points toward the center of the swath. Finally, there would be a tapering of the rate of distribution toward the two edges of the swath from the two points of maximum rate of distribution. Thus, with this arrangement, there is no possibility of accurately overlapping or otherwise relating separate swaths of movement back and forth across a field to obtain a uniform distribution. Each swath is in itself nonuniform, and subsequent trips only compound the nonuniform application of liquid to the field. The inability to control and to obtain a uniform rate of distribution has been a substantial factor in limiting the use of certain slurries and liquids with certain crops. For example, any nonuniformity in distribution of fertilizer for certain forage crops results in very noticeable differences in growth of the forage crops, and this would be completely unsatisfactory to growers.

Considering now the tilted distributor of this invention, the nearly perfect ring-shaped pattern of distribution for a vertically disposed unit is considerably warped by the tilting of the axis of rotation. Thus, there is formed, for a stationary distributor, a liquid application pattern which is somewhat in the shape of a triangle having rounded corners and a distorted, triangular central untreated area. However, when this approximately triangular pattern is moved forwardly with one apex leading and a broad base trailing, a very unique swath pattern of distribution is formed, and this unusual swath pattern results in the ability to control the uniformity of distribution for an entire field. The unique pattern of distribution formed by the tilting of a distributor unit results in a maximum rate of distribution at the center of each swath which is being layed down. From this center of maximum rate of-distribution, there is a continuous decline in the rate of distribution toward each outer edge of the swath being formed. Thus, a graphic pattern for the rate of distribution for each distributor would be essentially in the form of a triangle with the high point of the triangle representing the maximum rate of distribution which takes place along the line of travel of each distributor. FIG. 5 graphically illustrates patterns for two distributors X and Y 1 for a first pass down a field, and the same two distributors are graphed as Y and X for a return pass. With the width of each swath or pass being approximately 40 feet, for the example of operation given above, it has been found that the overlapping of adjoining patterns by an amount of 20 feet into each pattern results in a nearly perfectly uniform rate of distribution across the entire distance between adjoining distributors. Further, when a vehicle is turned around for a return trip across a field, the first swath X, Y is overlapped by the next succeeding swath X Y by the requisite amount to continue the uniform rate of application. Also, it should be clear that the degree of overlapping between adjoining swaths is not so critical as has been the case with prior distribution patterns. lf adjoining swaths are not overlapped by a precise amount, such as when a vehicle changes it course slightly, there is no extreme or noticeable total effect on the rate of distribution at the area of overlap. As already stated, the unusual distribution pattern for the system of this invention is self-compensating over a wide range of variances in the liquid which is being used and the rate at which it is being applied by a particular vehicle and system. In addition, the system of this invention is not affected by wind drifting conditions as much as prior arrangements for distributing and spreading liquids.

Although the system, and its operation has been described with reference to a particular embodiment, it will become apparent to those skilled in the art that many variations can be made in the system. For example, if two or more distributors are to be spaced apart at distances different than the 20 foot distance mentioned by way of example, there would be an appropriate adjustment in the amount of overlap back and forth across a field, and there would be an adjustment in the tilting angle or height of the individual distributors to form the ideal pattern which is taught by this invention. The individual distributing units of this invention are easily constructed and have a minimum of moving parts or complex elements which would otherwise be subject to repeated repair and maintenance. The distributor units may be used singly or in groups of two or more, as suggested by the above description. Further, the distributors may be separately mounted on a tank trailer which is drawn by a tractor or other self-propelled vehicle. With such an arrangement, the tank trailer would include means for maintaining the liquid solution or slurry in a state of agitation for the ultimate dispensing operation. All such variations as would be obvious to those skilled in this art are intended to be included within the scope of this invention.

We claim:

1. In a system for uniformly distributing liquids onto the earth by liquid distributor means mounted on a vehicle which moves over the earth while liquid is being distributed, the improvement insaid liquid distributor means comprising:

a distributor means having only a single outlet means extending outwardly from an axis of rotation for said distributor means, and including a counterbalance means extending outwardly from the axis of rotation and in a direction opposite to the direction in which said outlet means is extending, so that said outlet means can be rotated without vibration;

means for rotating a portion of said distributor about its axis of rotation so that said outlet is rotated and liquid is expelled therefrom in a substantially flat plane at right angles to said axis of rotation; and

means for mounting said distributor means on said vehicle so that its axis of rotation is tilted relative to said vehicle by an angle within the range of 10 to 30 away from a vertical axis, whereby liquid is distributed in a plane which angles upwardly and away from said vehicle and without any portion of the liquid plane touching the vehicle.

2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the length of said outlet means is adjustable and can be extendedand retracted along an axis at substantially right angles to the axis of rotation for said distributor means.

3. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said outlet means and said counterbalance means are respectively adjustable toward and away from one another.

4. The improvement of claim 3, and including means for adjusting said outlet means and said counterbalance means concurrently and in proportion to one another so that any change in the length of said outlet means will be automatically reflected in a compensating change in position for said counterbalance means, whereby said distributor means can be rotated with little or no vibration for all positions of said outlet means.

5. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said means for rotating said portion of the distributor is driven by means from said vehicle and in relation to the ground speed of said vehicle.

6. The improvement of claim 1 wherein two or more of said distributor means are mounted in a line at right angles to the direction of movement of said vehicle, and wherein the patterns of distribution of liquid from said distributor means overlap one another.

7. The improvement of claim 1 and including a reservoir containing liquid which is to be dispensed together with means for maintaining an agitation of the liquid within said reservoir. 

